Collapsible tap



P. JARDINE- A COLLAPSIBLE TAP.

APPLICATION men 0m. 30, 1919.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920,

3 sHEETS-SHEET I P. JARDINE.

COLLAPSIBLE TAP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1919.

1,362,800; mm Dec. 21,1920,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V IZ J.

P. JARDINE. COLLAPSIBLE TAP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. 1919.

1,362,800, Patented De0.'21, 1920.

3 SHEET$SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER JARDINE, OF HESPELER, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. JARDINE &; 00., LIMITED, OF HESPELER, ONTARIO, CANADA.

GOLLAPSIIBLE TAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application filed. October 30, 1919. Serial No. 334,388.

T 0 all 20 hom it may camera:

Be it known that I, PETER J Annrivn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, of the town of Hespeler, county of Waterloo, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Taps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible taps, and relates more particularly to a tap of this class which can be used for threading parallel and tapered holes or bores, and in the present application I shall disclose a form of collapsible tap for doing the same class of work as the collapsible tap disclosed in my co'pending application Number 83%,387, filed Oct. 30, 1919. The tap disclosed in the present application will be rotated and fed to the work which will be held stationary; whereas in the said copending application the tool is held stationary and the work rotated and fed thereto.

Since the tool disclosed in this present application rotates, it is desirous that the same be set without stopping the machinery, and without danger to the operator, and, therefore, the principal object of this present invention is to modify the construction of certain elements in my said co-pending application to effect the object in view.

In the following specification, coupled with the drawings forming part thereof, I shall set forth the movements necessary to effect the object in view, and the preferred means used to secure these movements, and what I claim as new will be pointed out in the claims forming part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of my tool,

certain parts being shown in section. In this view, the cutters are expanded. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, through portion of the tool, showing the cutters collapsed. Fig. Sis a vertical cross section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the tool, with portion of the tripping plate removed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the major portion of the tool body. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the front end of the tool body. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cam-sleeve. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section on the line 88, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the front end of the plunger head which carries the cuttors. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of one of the cutters of the tap. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the cam stop, and Fig. 12 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 13 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the keeper used in tapping parallel holes or bores. Fig. 14: is a side elevation, partly in section, of the keeper used in tapping tapered holes or bores. Fig. 15 is a side'elevation, partly in section, showing my tool adapted for tapping tapered holes or bores. Fig. 16 is a vertical cross section on the line 16-16, Fig. 15, and Fig. 17 is a vertical section through a suitable adjusting nut for the keeper.

In the drawings, like characters of ref erence refer to the same parts.

In the tool disclosed in my said co-pending application, the cutters are automatically collapsed, as is the case in this present disclosure, but the means used to reset the tap essentially project beyond one side of the tool, and since the said tool is held stationary, the said re-setting means is manually operated. In the present disclosure, the re-setting operation is effected by the operator holding a certain element, known as a keeper, stationary for a certain length of time so that during the rotation of the tool, the cutters will be expanded.

At the outset it will be understood by one skilled in the art, that this present tool, as well as the tool disclosed in the co-pending application, can be used for cutting righthand and left-hand threads.

1 is the tool body, and the same comprises a shank 2 which is designed to be mounted in any suitable chuck (not shown) so that the tool may be rotated. 3 is the head of the tool' body, and this head is provided with a plurality of radially-disposed 'slotsa, of any desired number, opening into the bore 5. Mounted to operate within the bore 5 is a plunger 6, which is provided with a head 8. The said head is preferably provided with a plurality of radiallydisposed members 9 which are located opposite the slots 4. 10 are the cutters, and the same occupy the slots 4. These cutters, together with the members 9, or equivalent means, carried by the plunger 6, form a collapsibletap. In order that the said cutters may be expanded and contracted as the plunger 6 is moved longitudinally in the bore 5, I provide any suitable means whereby the movement of the members 9 is transmitted to the cutters 10. The preferred means for this purpose consists in providing each member 9 with a flange 11 which fits a correspondinglyshaped groove 12' formed in each cutter 10. 13 is a flange forming part of each cutter 10, and each of these flanges operate in one of the grooves 14 formed in the members 9. It

will be observed upon referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 9 that the members 9 are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tool and that they converge toward the forward end of the tool. The inner edges of the cutters 10 are also similarly disposed.

The cutters 10 are retained in place by any suitable means such as a plate 14 secured to the outer end of the head 3 by any suitable means such as screws 15. The said plate closes the forward ends of the slots 1, and it will be seen upon referring particularly to Fig. 2 that the said cutters are coextensive with the length of the said slots 4, and have sliding movement with the walls thereof.

16 .is a lever which extends through alined slots 17 and 18 formed in the shank 2. These slots open into the bore 5. The said lever also extends through a slot 19, formed in the plunger 6, and is pivoted to the head 3 of the tool body, by any suitable element such as a pin 20. The slots 17 and 18 are tapered substantially as shown so as to allow for the necessary movement of the lever 16.

21 is an extension spring, or equivalent means, coupled after any suitable manner to the end of the plunger 6. This spring 21, or equivalent means, exerts power continually to withdraw the plunger 6 and its head 8 into the tool body, and in order to maintain the said plunger and head 8 in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, I use any suitable means such as a pin 22 which is in alinement with one of the slots 4. This pin is held in a hole 23 formed in the head 3 of the tool body, and which hole opens into the slot 17. In the position of the parts illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the pin 22 abuts against one of the members 9 in the head 8, and is held against the lever 16 which, in the position illustrated in'Fig; 1, is locked against movement. It will, therefore, be understood that in the position of the said parts as shown in Fig. 1, the pin 22 prevents the spring 21 from withdrawing the plunger 6 and head 8 into the tool body.

As before mentioned, the cutters 10 are for the purpose of tapping a parallel hole or bore, and as the work (not shown) is held stationary, the tool is rotated and advanced toward the work. hen the work is about fully tapped, the tripping plate 2 1 contacts therewith, and actuates the parts hereafter described, so as to collapse the cutters 10. This tripping plate is preferably provided with a cylindrical flange 24', which embraces the cam-sleeve 28 which embraces the tool body. The said tripping plate 24 is adjustably coupled to the. cam-sleeve 28 by any suitable means, and the preferred construction for this purpose comprises a pair of threaded studs 25 tapped into the sleeve 28. These studs extend through slots 26 formed in the flange 21', and are provided with flanges 27, which span the said slots and come in contact with the flange 24: so as to hold the said flange in' adjusted position.

30 is a keeper (see Figs. 1, 2, and 13) to be used with the, tool when tapping parallel holes or bores, and this keeper embraces the tool body. At certain times, the camsleeve 28 houses the inner portion of said keeper. The said keeper is provided at its inner end with a spiral cam-face 29, the highest point of which terminates in a flat face 29 which is disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tool. WVhen the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the flat face 29 of the cam-face 29 is in the path of movement of the lever 16, and it therefore follows that the thrust of the pin 22 against the lever 16 is opposed by the keeper 30. 31 is a stud carried by the keeper 30 and positioned behind the face 29 of the cam-face 29. This stud at certain times is located in the circumferential groove 31, formed in the inner side of the cam-sleeve 28. 32 and 32 are slots formed in the cam-sleeve 28, and opening each into the other, thus forming a common slot of two portions of the same length, and these portions or slots occupy the same angular position to the longitudinal axis of the said sleeve. The ad 85 of the slot 32 is formed with the sides 86 thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cam-sleeve 28, as

shown clearly in Figs. 1, 7, and 15.

keeper 30 to rotate with the tool at certain times.

The stud 31 is normally in alinement with the end 85 of the slot 32 and rests against one end of the cam-stop 27' and so soon as the tripping-plate 24 comes in contact with the work (not shown) this tripping-plate is moved backward and carries with it the cam-sleeve 28. By reason of the movement the end 85 of the slot 32 allows, the camstop 27 is moved out of contact with the stud 31, and since the walls cm of the slot 32 are brought into contact with the said stud, the keeper 30 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow past the lever 16 until the shoulder 29" of the cam-face 29 escapes by said lever when the spring 21 or equivalent means is permitted to act and so collapse the cutters. This collapse of the cutters occurs only when the work is fully tapped. At the time of the completion of the movement just described, the stud 31 is located substantially at the position 32 of the slot formed in the cam-sleeve 28.

Now in order to re-set the tool, that is, expand the cutters 10, the operator grasps the keeper 30 by hand through the medium of the flange 30 thereof, holding this keeper stationary. The tool continues to revolve to the right in this embodiment, and through the co-aetion between the stud 31 and the walls of the slot 32, the cam-sleeve 28 is moved back to normal position during which movement the lever 16 travels up the spiral cam-face 29 until it occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 1, thus through the pin 22 constantly in contact therewith forcing forward the head 8 of the plunger 6 and expanding the cutters 10. Immediately the stud 31 is passed from the slot 32, it is located within the circumferential groove 31 and through the rotation of the cam-sleeve 28, the cam-stop 27 is in due course brought into contact with the stud 31, thus forcing the keeper 30 to rotate with the tool.

Upon referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 11, it will be seen that the axis of the stud 31 is in alinement with the longitudinal center of the cam-stop 27, and that one end of this cam-stop is provided with a beveled corner 27 over which the stud 31 passes when the cam-sleeve 28 (which carries this cam-stop) is forced backward.

Screwing on the threaded portion of the tool-body is an adjusting nut 34 which is interlocked after any suitable manner as shown at 35 with the keeper 30 so as to allow for the described movement of ,the said keeper. This adjusting nut 3 l is locked in position by any suitable means such as the set screw 36 (see Fig. 2 particularly) and while it functionates to retain the keeper 30 against longitudinal movement, it is interlocked therewith as before described, so that the tap may be adjusted to tap holes or bores of different diameters within its capacity.

In turning the adjusting nut to the left, the keeper 30 will be drawn backward thus permitting movement of the lever 16 under pressure from the pin 22 which, in turn, is moved by pressure thereagainst of the head 8 brought into action through the elastic means 21. The described movement of the said head will withdraw the cutters 10 the required amount.

From Fig. 17 it will be seen that the interlocking means 35 of the nut 34: allows of the interfitting of the nut with the keeper 30.

a are the inner ends of the slots 4:, and it is the space formed by these inner ends in which the members 9 pass when the tap is collapsed. b is a key mounted in the shank 2, and the same travels in a key-way 0 formed in the cam-sleeve 28: the construction just described, or its equivalent, is that which conveys movement to the cam-sleeve 28 from the shank 2 of the tool-body.

The preferred means for coupling the spring 21 tothe shank 2, is to suitably couple the bolt 39 tosaid spring, and to countersink the head 10 of said bolt in the outer end of the shank 2. There is nothing new in the construction just mentioned, but it will be understood that this is a convenient way of adjusting the tension of the said spring, which is the preferred type of elastic means employed for the purpose set forth.

My tool as just described is adapted for tapping parallel holes or bores. Now to adapt it for tap-ping tapered holes or bores I must use tapered cutters 10 (see Fig. 15) and these are placed on the plunger head 8 after the plate 1a is removed. Obviously, the cutters 10 must be withdrawn as the tapping of the tapered hole or bore proceeds, and to time the proper withdrawal of the said cutters, the tripping plate 24 must be moved into substantially the position shown in Fig. 15 before the tool is put to work. By loosening the studs 25, the adjustment of the said plate 24: can be effected, and after adjustment said studs are tightened up It logically follows that before the cutters 10 can be withdrawn, the lever 16 must be given a backward movement simultaneously with the required movement of said cutters. Now to effect this movement, a modified form of keeper 30" (see Figs. 14 and 15) must be substituted for the keeper 30. This change in elements occurs at the 105 same time the cutters 10 replace the cutters 10. The normal position of the lever 16 in respect of the keeper 30 is shown in Fig.

15, and it will be observed that the said lever rests against the apex of the beveled face a? 1 of this keeper. As the cam-sleeve 28 is moved backward, through the co-action between the stud 31 and the walls of the slot 32, the keeper 30 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, thus moving the tapered face 115 Z of the cam-face (Zd in respect of the lever 16, thus allowing for the continuous withdrawal of the said cutters 10 during the tapping operation. Since from the commencement of the tapping of the cutters 10 120 they must be gradually withdrawn the tapered face (Z will be longer than is the equivalent face when tapping parallel holes or bores, and by the time the shoulder clc of the keeper 30 escapes the lever 16, the cutters 125 10 will have performed their work, and will be completely withdrawn through the operation of the spring 21 and the parts actuated thereby.

It will of course be understood that the 130 comes in contact with the work so as to rocutters 10' are re-set after the manner before described. I f p This specification discloses a durable, yet inexpensive tool and any parts that are broken can be readily replaced without much trouble.

Upon referring particularly to Fig. 7, it will be obvious that by reason of the provision of the circumferential groove 31 in the cam-sleeve 28, the walls cm of the slots 32 and 32 beyond where they open into the said circumferential groove will be deeper than the walls of the said slot-s where they open into the circumferential groove 31 (as shown at 00) so as to provide for the necessary engagement between the stud 31 and the walls of the said slots.

Various changes in details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is,

1. A tool of the class described comprising a bore-provided body provided with a head having a chamber extending longitudinally thereof; a plurality of cutters mounted in said head; a plunger mounted in said bore and adapted to co-act with said cutters so as to move themradially inwardly and outwardly; elastic means for actuating said plunger; means associated with said tool and designed to lock said plunger in forward position so as to hold said cutters in outward position, comprising a keeper mounted on said body and provided at its inner end with a spiral cam-face; a lever pivoted to said body and operating through slots formed therein which open into the bore thereof, said lever extending through a slot formed in said plunger and normally resting in contact with the top of said camface; means interposed between said plunger and said lever whereby said plunger is held in forward position, and means meeting with said keeper and adapted to be moved longitudinally of the tool as said means mounted in said head; a plunger mounted in said bore and adapted to co-act with said cutters so as to move them radially inwardly and outwardly; elastic means for actuating said plunger; means associated with said tool and designed to lock said plunger in forward position so as to hold said cutters in outward position, comprising a keeper mounted on said body and provided at its inner end with a spiral cam-face; a lever pivoted to said body and operating through slots formed therein which open into the bore thereof, said lever extending through a slot formed in said plunger and normally resting in contact with the top of said camface; means interposed between said plunger and said lever whereby said plunger is held in forward position; means co-acting with said keeper and adapted to be moved longitudinally of the tool as said means comes in contact with the work so as to rotate said keeper to move the top of said cam-face past said lever to release said lever and unlock said plunger and permit of the collapse of said cutters through the action of said elastic means, and means whereby the position of said keeper can be adjusted longitudinally of said tool.

A tool of the class described comprising, a bore-provided body provided with a head having a chamber extending longitudinally thereof; a plurality of cutters mounted in said head; a plunger mounted in said bore and adapted to co-act with the said cutters so as to move them radially inwardly and outwardly; elastic means for actuating said plunger; means associated with said tool and designed to lock said plunger in forward position, so as to hold said cutters in outward position, comprising a keeper mounted on said body and provided at its inner end with a spiral cam-face; a lever pivoted to said body and operating through slots formed therein which open into the bore thereof, said lever extending through a slot formed in said plunger and normally resting in contact with the top of said camface; means interposed between said plunger and said lever whereby said plunger is held in forward position; a cam-sleeve mounted on said body and provided with a slot formed of two portions of substantially the 7 same length, which portions occupy substantially the same angle to the longitudinal axis of the tool, one end of one of said slotportions having sides which extend substantially parallel with the axis of said camsleeve, and the said cam-sleeve being further provided with a circumferential inner groove into which the portions of said slot open; a stud carried by said keeper and designed at times to rest in said circumferential groove; a stop mounted in said circumferential groove which normally rests against said stud, and a tripping-plate carried by said cam-sleeve, the same designed to be brought into contact with the work so as to move said cam-sleeve longitudinally to move said cam-stop out of contact with the stud to-permit said stud to co-act with one of the portions of said slot and so cause said keeper to rotate on said body so as to effect the unlocking of the tool to permit of the collapse of the cutters, as set forth.

a. A tool of the class described comprising a bore-provided body provided with a head having a chamber extending longitudinally thereof; a plurality of cutters mounted in said head; a plunger mounted in said bore and adapted to co-act with said cutters so as to move them radially inwardly and out wardly; elastic means for actuating said plunger; means associated with said tool and designed to lock said plunger in forward position so as to hold said cutters in outward position, comprising a keeper mounted-on said body and provided at its inner end with a spiral cam-face; a lever pivoted to said body and operating through slots formed therein which open into the bore thereof, said lever extending through a slot formed in said plunger and normally resting in contact with the top of said cam-face; means interposed between said plunger and said lever whereby said plunger is held in forward position; a cam-sleeve mounted on said body and provided with a slot formed of two portions of substantially the same length, which portions occupy substantially the same angle to the longitudinal axis of the tool, one end of one of the said slot-portions having sides which extend substantially parallel with the axis of said cam-sleeve, and the said cam-sleeve being further provided with a circumferential inner groove into which the portions of said slot open; a stud carried by said keeper and designed at times to rest in said circumferential groove; a stop mounted in said circumferential groove which normally rests against said stud, and a tripping-plate adjustably carried by said cam-sleeve, the same designed to be brought into contact with the work so as to move said cam-sleeve longitudinally to move said camstop out of contact with the said stud to permit said stud to co-act with one of the portions of said slot and so cause said keeper to rotate on said body so as to effect the unlocking of the tool to permit of the collapse of the cutters, as set forth.

5. A tool of the class described comprising a bore-provided body provided with a head having a chamber extending longitudinally thereof; a plurality of cutters mounted in said head; a plunger mounted in said bore and adapted to co-act with said cutters so as to move them radially inwardly and outwardly; elastic means for actuating said plunger; means associated with said tool and designed to lock said plunger in forward position so as to hold said cutters in outward position, comprising a keeper mounted on said body and provided at its inner end with a spiral cam-face; a lever pivoted to said body and operating through slots formed therein which open into the bore thereof, said lever extending through a slot formed in said plunger and normally resting in contact with the top of said cam-face; means interposed between said plunger and said lever whereby said plunger is held in forward position, a camsleeve mounted on said body and provided with a slot formed of two portions of substantially the same length, which portions occupy substantially the same angle to the longitudinal axis of the tool, one end of one of said slot-portions having sides which extend substantially parallel with the axis of said cam-sleeve, and the said cam-sleeve being further provided with a circumferential inner groove into which the portions of said slot open; a stud carried by said keeper and designed at times to rest in said circumferential groove; a stop mounted in said circumferential groove normally resting against a tripping plate adjustably carried by said cam-sleeve, the same designed to be brought into contact with the work so as to move said cam-sleeve longitudinally to move said cam-stop out of contact with the said stud to permit said stud to co-actwith one of the portions of said slot and so cause said keeper to rotate on said body so as to effect the unlocking of the tool to permit of the collapse of the cutters, as set forth, and means whereby said cam-sleeve is caused to rotate with said body and yet permit of the movement of said camsleeve longitudinally of said body.

6. In a tool of the class described, in combination a bore-provided body; a plunger mounted therein; a plurality of cutters adapted to co-act with said plunger so that as said plunger is moved longitudinally of said body, the cutters will be expanded or contracted; means mounted in said body and designed to hold said plunger in forward position to keep said cutters expanded; elastic means exerting energy to withdraw said plunger to collapse said cutters; a keeper mounted on said body and provided with a spiral cam-face against the top of which said holding means normally rests, and means rotating with said body whereby through the coaction therebetween and the work, said keeper will be moved around the axis of the tool so as to permit said holding means to escape from the top of said camface to the lowest part thereof so as to permit said elastic means to collapse said outters.

PETER JARDINE. 

